Volunteers visit the Carver Center in Port Chester, New York regularly, and assist Carver’s clients in shopping for healthy foods. We help our neighbors deal with the issue of food insecurity.
The Oasis Shelter is a haven for men in New Rochelle looking for a safe, warm place to spend the night. Once each month, our volunteers prepare and deliver a hot meal to be served to men and women at the Oasis Shelter.
Volunteers are needed to prepare a simple, yet nutritious, pasta meal that feeds approximately 60 grateful friends at the Oasis Shelter. A list of all the things that are necessary for the meal preparation will be provided. If you buy the ingredients and supplies, Philoptochos will reimburse you. Otherwise, we can make all necessary purchases and bring them to you. You may volunteer to prepare the meal at your home or in the Church kitchen. You may volunteer to deliver the meal or we can do that for you. You may even team up with a friend. There are many ways to volunteer!
Grace’s Kitchen first opened in the early 1970s, when parishioners of Grace Episcopal Church began providing soup and sandwiches to their hungry neighbors in the heart of White Plains. Today, the mission of Grace’s Kitchen remains the same. Once a month our volunteers pick up sandwich supplies from our Church kitchen. They have the option to either make sandwiches in the Church kitchen or at their own home. Sandwiches are prepared on the Wednesday before delivery and are delivered the next day, at 10:30A.M. on Thursday.
Since my last letter, our chapter remains busy and involved in many meaningful activities. From November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, our chapter participated in the Archdiocesan District’s Diapers and Baby Blankets Drive to benefit the Floating Hospital, an organization serving as a healthcare safety net to nearly 27,000 children and adults annually. Through our efforts we raised more than $700 for this worthy cause. Many thanks to all who donated.
On December 12, our chapter held its annual Candlelight Dinner. I am delighted to share with you that this important fundraiser was a huge success, raising almost $20,000 in net profit! Two hundred and twenty-three attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by our own chef Manny Louros in our beautiful church social hall adorned in red and green. Everyone was delighted to honor Serene Romas, a past president of our Philoptochos chapter, in recognition of her many years of dedicated service to our chapter and our parish community. We had a festive holiday boutique, many fabulous raffle prizes, and a super raffle prize of a reversible fur/raincoat, donated by this year’s honoree. Thank you to all who supported our chapter by attending. Many thanks to all who worked hard to make this event the beautiful evening it was.
After liturgy on December 15, our chapter held its annual Hats, Gloves, and Scarves for the Homeless Sale. Members of our community had the opportunity to purchase a set of these warm accessories. These sets were then distributed to our friends in need at the December Soup Run. Sales of these sets totaled $930, the proceeds of which will be used to benefit all our Outreach Ministries. Thanks to those who purchased the sets. Many of these items were handmade by our own Knitting Group. Thank you to all who contributed their crafting talents to create these beautiful items and a special thank you to George Kourakos who instructed incarcerated women at a facility in Valhalla, who likewise contributed items to this sale!
On January 26, our first General Membership Meeting of the year was held following the liturgy to discuss the Proposed Budget for 2025. Our treasurer, Angie Lambros, presented a well-prepared report. Following a discussion and a question-and-answer exchange, our members voted to pass the Proposed Budget.
Presently ongoing is our Membership Drive. We seek to expand our membership and its multigenerational composition. Please renew your membership or join. Look in your mail for membership details and/or stop by the Philoptochos table at coffee hour to speak to any of the membership co-chairwomen for more information.
The annual Presanctified Divine Liturgy dedicated to our chapter will take place on Wednesday March 19. Preparations already are underway for our Easter Market, where you may buy delicious Lenten and Paschal foods. Proceeds from this important fundraiser support our philanthropic endeavors. Stay tuned for more information about both these events.
Our Philoptochos chapter provides many ways to get involved. Once a month, volunteers at the Carver Center assist food-insecure persons in Port Chester. Volunteers provide a meal for HOPE Community Services of New Rochelle several times a year. Our Philoptochos chapter sponsors the weekly Community Food Drive. Volunteers make sandwiches that are delivered to the Grace Episcopal Church in White Plains and distributed to those in need there. Also, once a month, volunteers prepare and deliver a meal that feeds about 60 friends at the Oasis Shelter in New Rochelle. Through our Soup Run we provide a meal and various sundry items to the homeless in Manhattan. Members of our Prison Ministry have started monthly Saturday morning visits to a correctional facility in Bedford to conduct spiritual classes there. Members of our Saint Michael’s Ministry have visited there three times since September. On February 9 th The Michael Zoulis Trio joined the fun providing lively Greek music for both residents and volunteers to enjoy. There was so much singing and dancing! Finally, since September, the Knitting for Charity group and our Book Club have met several times. Visit our Church’s website at www.holytrinitynr.org or stop by our Philoptochos bulletin board in the Church foyer for information about what dates are available for you to participate in any of the Outreach Ministries and for further information about these ministries, clubs, and other forthcoming events.
Finally, remember our chapter is connected. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram where you can see photos, read about our ministries, clubs and events, and see what we do together to make the world better.
With gratitude and love,
Agathy Gerkis
Philoptochos Chapter President
avloula@gmail.comNo Facebook? No problem!
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WHY JOIN?
All women of Holy Trinity are highly encouraged to consider membership in this vital group. Holy Trinity Philoptochos has over 190 members and continues to grow! Through leadership, effective national and local action, fund development and 'hands on' outreach the Philoptochos:
The National Philoptochos Ministry has over 27,500 members and 480 Chapters across the United States.
National Ladies Philoptochos website
National Philoptochos Blog
National Philoptochos Facebook Page
PRESIDENT
Agathy Gerkis
VICE PRESIDENT
Andrea Nicholas
TREASURER
Angie Lambros
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Maria Valliades
RECORDING SECRETARY
Kathy Tzortzides
ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT
Elizabeth Zoulis
BOARD MEMBERS
Felicia Faia
Anna Damianides
Maria Fotiadis
Despina Kartson
Eirinni Copulos
Melissa Lootens
Stephanie Madouros
Constance Mavrovitis
Tina Pantginis
Margaret Papademetriou
Serene Romas
Marina Sirras
Each week, while doing your food shopping, please consider buying two extra items for those in need. Each item represents a meal for someone who would otherwise go hungry.
For your convenience a drop off bin is located outside the Church office.
Staples such as rice, canned tuna, peanut butter, breakfast cereal, canned vegetables, and pasta are always in great need. Each week, these food items are brought to the HOPE Food Pantry of New Rochelle.
Your contributions are an enormous help to needy families who are often faced with the continued threat of homelessness, and the difficult decision of paying rent or buying food.
Have you ever wanted to learn how to Knit or Crochet? Do you already know how and want to share your enthusiasm?
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the upcoming Church Kitchen renovation project, we won’t be able to cook for HOPE in our Church Kitchen during the months of January, February and March. During those months, we will continue our ministry by purchasing lasagna, as we did during the COVID lockdown. I hope we will be able to return to our newly renovated Church kitchen in April and will start preparing our delicious (and nutritious) chili and corn bread for HOPE once again…stay tuned.
